Chess piece with removable instructional base

ABSTRACT

A selectively removable base for a chess playing piece having movement instructions displayed thereon for the chess playing piece. The attached base is useful for the beginnger, and is merely disconnected, because not needed, by the more experienced player, or is disconnected by the beginner when he advances to the stage of play where he no longer needs rudimentary instructions.

United States Patent [191 Helfgott [111 3,856,309 [451 Dec. 24, 1974 1 CHESS PIE CE WITH REMOVABLE INSTRUCTIONAL BASE [75] Inventor: Saul Helfgott, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Field Manufacturing Co., Inc.,

' Lindenhurst, NJ.

[22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1974v [21] Appl. No.: 458,719

[52] US. Cl 273/137 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/02 [58] Field of Search..... 273/l37 R, 137 A, 137 AE,

273/137 AB, 137 AC, 137 F, 137 W [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,657 10/1923 Lillard 273/137 AB 4/1940 Gruber 273/137 F UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 677,949 7/1939 Germany 273/137 AB 558,730 1/1944 Great Britain 273/137 R 1,034,030 6/1966 Great Britain 273/137 R Primary Examiner-Ant0n O. Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer [57] ABSTRACT A selectively removable base for a chess playing piece having movement instructions displayed thereon for the chess playing piece. The attached base is useful for the beginnger, and is merely disconnected, because not needed, by the more experienced player, or is disconnected by the beginner when he advances to the stage of play where he no longer needs rudimentary instructions.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures v ings.

The present invention relates generally to an im- .proved, beginners chess set, and more particularly to an attachment member displaying instructions concerning movements of the chess playing piece selectively usable as a base for the playing piece.

A beginning'or inexperienced chess player might understandably need assistance regarding movements of the chess pieces. There are therefore chess sets that have appropriateinstructions printed orv otherwise in display position on the chess pieces. However, these instructions are not necessary for an experienced player. Besides being unnecessary, such display might also detract from the appearance .of the piece, as well as contribute to other shortcomings.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved beginners chess set overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a chess piece construction that is advantageously used in one form by'a beginner. and in another form by the experienced player. I

A beginners chess piece demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a snap-on base having movement instructions displayed thereon for said chess playing piece. When used by an experienced player, the base is merely disconnected.

The above brief description. as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention,

will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed descriptionof a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

HO. 1 is a perspective view of a combination removable base and chess playing piece according to the present invention;

F l6. 2 is a plan view of the removable base illustrating further structural features thereof;

HO. 3 is a side elevational view, in section. illustrating the force fit engagement of the base on the chess playing piece; and

P10. 4 is a layout,-in the flat. of playing instructions which are displayed on the removable base.

lllustrated in the drawings is a combination, generally designated 10, of a typical chess playing piece 12 (i.e. a rook). and a removable plastic attachment or base 14 for the playing piece which demonstrates objects and advantages of the present invention. As generally un derstood, chess playing pieces are only allowed certain prescribed movements in relation to the squares on a typical'chess playing surface 16. For a beginning or inexperienced chess player, it is obviously advantageous to have appropriately'displayed on the chess playing piece instructions as to how it can be moved. These inpiece 12, to thereby satisfy the aforementioned playing requirements for a beginning or inexperienced player;

yet, said base 14 is readily detached from the playing a piece 12 and thus need not interfere or be needlessly] understood that the circular base 26 of the chess piece l2 and the diameter of the circular depression 22 is sized so as to provide a friction fit therebetween. In other words, the removable explanatory attachment or base 14 is readily snapped in friction fit engaging relation to the chess piece 26 when it is desired to use the member 14, and conversely it is readily disengaged therefrom bymerely pulling the two apart.

Reference should now be made to FIG. 4 wherein the explanations concerning the movements of the chess piece 12- are illustrated, as if laid out in the flat. Actually, it is contemplated that said explanations will be printed or otherwise reproduced on the curved side surface 18 of the removable base 14. As shown in FlG. I 4, these explanations, generally designated 28, preferably consist of an outline 30 of the playing piece which assists in the matching of the proper base 14 to the specific playing piece involved. To further assist in this matching, there is also provided the name 32 of the playing piece. Completing the explanation or instructions for movement of the chess playing piece is a representation 34 of the checker board having thereon an indication, such as arrows or the like, which indicate the movements that may be made of the playing piece in specific relation to the squares of the checker board and the maximum number of squares this piece can travel in one move. 1

The present invention naturally contemplates the use of the removable base 14 for each of the chess playing pieces that have a complicated direction or mode of movement in relation to the playing surface 16. This would be all of the playing pieces. In regard to what has been described herein, it will be understood that a latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended and that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

structions. of course, are not necessary for an experiln accordance'with the present invention. there is thus provided a base 14 which, among other noteworthy features, has an operative condition in which it is in frictional engagement or attachmcntwith the playing What is claimed is: l. A combination of a chess playing piece having a sized circular base and an attached explanatory base .for a beginning player for said playing piece that is removable from said attachment therewith when used by an experienced player, said explanatory base comprising a body having an upper surface and a side'surface. said side surface having instructions relating to the movement of said chess playing piece displayed thereon, and said upper surface having a sized circular depression formed therein adapted to engage in a force fit said circular base of said chess playing piece, whereby said explanatory base is only removably attached to said chess playing piece.

2. The combination as claimed in claim I wherein 4 said explanatory base is fabricated of plastic. and said depression formed in said upper surface thereof is bounded by a peripheral chess piece-engaging lip.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body of said explanatory base is of a circular shape so as to appear to be an extension of said chess playing piece. I

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said body of said explanatory base is generally conical so as to function as a steady support for said chess playing piece when the same is in mounted position I thereon.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein is capable of traveling, and the maximum amount of squares said chess piece may travel. 

1. A combination of a chess playing piece having a sized circular base and an attached explanatory base for a beginning player for said playing piece that is removable from said attachment therewith when used by an experienced player, said explanatory base comprising a body having an upper surface and a side surface, said side surface having instructions relating to the movement of said chess playing piece displayed thereon, and said upper surface having a sized circular depression formed therein adapted to engage in a force fit said circular base of said chess playing piece, whereby said explanatory base is only removably attached to said chess playing piece.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said explanatory base is fabricated of plastic, and said depression formed in said upper surface thereof is bounded by a peripheral chess piece-engaging lip.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body of said explanatory base is of a circular shape so as to appear to be an extension of said chess playing piece.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said body of said explanatory base is generally conical so as to function as a steady support for said chess playing piece when the same is in mounted position thereon.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body of said explanatory base is formed as a comparatively thin wall of plastic so as to facilitate being snapped into frictional engagement with said chess playing piece.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein on said explanatory base is shown the name and a pictorial representation of the chess piece said explanatory base attaches to, the direction of movement said chess piece is capable of traveling, and the maximum amount of squares said chess piece may travel. 